Sunday, 9 October 2011

Last day on Shetland and Semipalmated sandpiper

Red backed shrike

Very early start at Voxter to go on a organised flushed for a Great snipe, as the fog began to lift, we all stood along the edge of a field and had to wait for the birders who found the Great snipe to walk through field hoping to flush the bird , but unfortunately the only birds on note were 6 Common snipe, 1 Ruff and a Pink footed goose was heard and then seen a Great skua was seen flying over everybody.

At brake and Quendale, we scanned the valley and farm land for the Pallid harrier, a Wheatear at least 3 Whinchats we on show also 3 Twite and a Chiffchaff, then a Harrier species was spotted as it landed on a post along a field, it was a Ringtail Hen harrier, which was soon joined by the oiled Pallid harrier, the second Pallid harrier we have seen in less then a week, we watched the Harrier as it flew around the valley with a Hen Harrier, other birds seen we are first Redwings of the Autum and 2 more Great skuas flying over.

Peregrine falcon

At Sumburgh hotel Dad manged to relocate a juvenille Red backed Shrike which showed well, Rob and i also saw a Yellow browed warbler which seemed to be be harrasing the shrike there was also 1 Rock pipit, 3 Wheatears and 2 pied wagtails.

Other birds seen today were
28 Red breasted merganser.
6 Siskins.
Kestrel.
Dunlin.
Eiders.
A Peregrine falcon which i managed to creep, really close to, i got about 4 meters away completly amazing.

Red backed shrike

Back on Mainland Scotland we went to see the Semipalmated sandpiper, which Dad managed to find feeding along a muddy bank with atleast 50 Dunlin and 50 Ruff were feeding also.

All in All not a bad trip to Shetland looking forward to going back next year.